Andhra MP Gets Booked For Allegedly Slapping Air India Official

Indian passengers stand in a queue to make enquiries at an Air India counter at the airport in Ahmadabad, India, Friday, May 11, 2012. Hundreds of passengers have been stranded in India after Air India canceled around 20 international flights due to a strike by pilots. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

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A member of Parliament from Andhra Pradesh has been booked and a criminal case has been registered against him for allegedly slapping an Air India station manager at Tirupati airport on Thursday.

And, what was the official's fault? He refused to let the politician and his relatives get on to a flight for which boarding had been closed.

According to reports, the YSR Congress party MP P Mithun Reddy reached the Tirupati airport about 20 to 25 minutes before flight departure time with some of his relatives to board AI 541 to Delhi.

Boarding counters for domestic flights close at least 45 minutes before departure time--and that's one rule all flyers are aware of.

However, when the airline refused to take him onboard, the Lok Sabha lawmaker went to the cabin of Air India manager at the airport and picked up an "argument" with him.

He later "shouted" at the manager before allegedly slapping him, Yerpedu police station sub-inspector Ramakrishnaiah said based on a complaint lodged by the victim.

"Since the boarding counter had closed for the 2:30 pm flight when the MP and his entourage reached the airport, the VVIP asked the station manager to accommodate him and his relatives on board. Expressing his inability to do so as boarding had closed, the employee apologised to the MP. The politician flew into a rage and slapped the station manager," an official told Times Of India.

The airline asked the employee to file a complaint against the MP.

Following the complaint, a case was registered last night against the lawmaker along with his 15 other followers under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 448 (house-trespass) of IPC, he said.

"We are investigating the matter," the SI told PTI over phone.

About time politicians realise they cannot get away with misbehaviour for being VVIPs of the country.